SEC Info’s
Database Search
is for finding distinct “entities” or “objects” in our database. After finding the entity or object of your interest,
you would then go to our page representing the entity (such as a Registrant like Microsoft) to get information about it,
or you would go to our page listing the contents of the object (such as all companies in the software industry).
In other words, if you want to find Microsoft’s 10-Ks, you would first find Microsoft,
and then you would see links on its Registrant page to lists of its SEC Filings.

Google’s
Custom Search
is for finding text in SEC Filings or on any other pages in our site that have been indexed.
Doing a search this way results mostly in large lists of Filings you may be interested in that contain the text you searched for.
For example, searching for “Microsoft 10-K” would result in a list of all Filings having that text,
and it would include many non-Microsoft Filings,
because other companies in the software industry who also file 10-Ks may mention Microsoft in theirs.
Also, when searching this way, you can narrow the results by enclosing concepts or objects in double-quotes,
e.g., "Initial Public Offering" instead of without the quotes.

If you are looking for an SEC Registrant who is not showing up as being in our database:
(1) Use names or initials, not ticker symbols, to minimize any ambiguity;
(2) Be concise, since two or three distinctive words usually works best;
(3) Try abbreviations and acronyms;
(4) Minimize punctuation, because the SEC does so when assigning names;
(5) Be aware that our database only contains data from electronic SEC EDGAR Filings; and
(6) Note that not all foreign entities are required to file electronically.